Gate operating mechanism



1m 19, 1934. E PHILUPS 1,963,212

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 19, 1934. E. PHILLlPS GATE OPERATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1935 q m We -g, ATTORN EY6 GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to gates such as are used in connection with drive-ways, and more particularly to an improved operating mechanism for such gates.

The general object of the invention is to provide improved means by Which a person approaching the gate from either direction may open or close it without alighting from the vehicle.

A specific object is to provide a simplified mechanism, including a weight, whereby the initial movement of the gate is effected by hand and the completion of the movement is carried out by gravity.

Another specific object is to provide means for counteracting the effect of wind pressure on the gate, so that it may be operated easily under all conditions.

Still another object is to devise a gate, and operating means therefor; so designed that the gate may be mounted to open in either direction, as

conditions may require.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improved gate operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the gate shut, the operating chains and posts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the position they occupy when the gate is open;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through one form of combined link and weight which I employ;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to the left hand portion of Fig. 2, but illustrating a slight modification;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the link shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a somewhat different construction of operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly first to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, 1 designates a suitable post which serves as a support for the gate and which, as shown, is considerably higher than the gate itself. This post is set into the ground adjacent the drive-way, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. At the opposite side of the drive-way is another and shorter post 2, with which the gate registers when in closed position.

The gate itself is designated in its entirety by the reference character 3, and is pivotally supported on the post 1 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of eye-bolts 4, through which the vertical frame member 3 of the gate passes, this member extending a considerable distance above the top of the gate, as shown in Fig. 1.

A rigid lever 6 is pivoted at one end on a stud 7 carried by the top bar of the gate, preferably adjacent the hinge end thereof, as shown. The lever 6 is journalled on the stud 7 by means of a relatively long bearing so that it can swing freely thereon in a vertical plane but is prevented from moving laterally. In order to still further insure against lateral movement of the lever 6 and to assist it in withstanding transverse strains, I enclose it in a guide bar 5 secured at its ends to the vertical member 3 of the gate. The lower end of this guide bar 5 also serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the lever 6 and to maintain it normally in substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the gate 3 is shown as so mounted on the post 1 as to swing toward the observer during its opening movement, as viewed in Fig. 1, and accordingly, the lever 6 and stud 7 are mounted on the front side of the gate. It frequently happens, however, that, in installing a gate, it is desirable to have it swing in the opposite direction to open position, that is to say, the eye-bolts 4 would be placed on the other side of the post 1. In such a case, it is necessary to mount the lever 6 on the opposite or rear side of the gate. Consequently, I propose to provide means as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 whereby the stud '7 may project from either or both sides of the gate. This may be accomplished by having studs project from both sides, when the gate is manufactured, or by simply providing the fitting such as shown at '7 in Figs. 2 and 3, with a socket on both sides of the gate, into either of which sockets the stud 7 may be secured, as desired. It will of course be also understood that the guide bar 5 may be mounted on the opposite side of the gate by simply inserting its ends through holes in the member 3 of the gate, from the opposite side. Thus it will be seen that I contemplate a gate which can be mounted at will on either side of a post and which can be arranged to swing in either direction, as desired.

Rigidly secured to and projecting from the post 1 at approximately the level of the lever 6 is an arm 8, this arm extending at an angle to the plane of the gate, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The end of this arm is thus spaced a suitable distance from the lever 6.

' tially horizontal position on the Extending between the arm 8 and lever B and pivotally connected to both is a link 9. As illustrated in the drawings, this link is large and heavy, being preferably formed of cast iron, and has an opening 9 extending transversely therethrough. As shown in Fig. 5, this link may conveniently be made in two halves or sections, secured together, and at one end is provided with a universal or ball and socket connection 10 with the end of the arm 8.

The lever 6 extends through a sleeve 11 housed within the opening 9 and pivotally mounted therein by means of the studs 12. Thus, the lever 6 is free to partake of angular movement relative to the link 9.

At its end opposite the ball and socket joint 10, the link is provided with an eye or the like 13, to which is attached one end of a chain 14. This chain passes upwardly over a pulley 15 carried by an arm 1 projecting from the post 1, and thence over a second pulley 16 carried by an arm 17 projecting from a second post 17, spaced from the post 1 along the roadway a distance greater than the length of the gate.

A second chain 18 is also secured to the eye 13 and passes upward around a pulley 19 carried by the arm 1- and thence around a pulley 20 car ried by an arm 21 projecting from a third post 21 set adjacent the roadway on the opposite side of the gate from the post 17. It will thus be seen that adownward pull on the free end of either of the chains 14 or 18 will result in an upward pull on the end of the link 9 to which they are attached.

Projecting downwardly from the lever 6 is an arm 22, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a latch bar 23, the other end of which passes through a guide 24 carried by the gate and is adapted to engage a keeper 25 mounted on the post 2. The lower edge of the latch adjacent the guide 24 is bevelled as shown at 23 so that when the latch is moved longitudinally, its free end is raised out of engagement with the keeper 25.

Assuming that a person approaching the gate from the front desires to open it, he will grasp the free end of the chain 14 and give a sharp pull thereon, in the nature of a jerk. This will lift the free end of the link 9 and turn it about its connection 10 with the fixed arm 8 until it reaches a substantially vertical position. The momentum and weight of the link 9 will then carry it on past such vertical position and continue the turning movement until the link reaches a substanopposite side of the arm 8, as shown in Fig. 3. In thus turning about its pivotal connection with the arm 8 through substantially 180 the link 9 carries the lever 6 with it, moving such lever from the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it makes an acute angle with the arm 8, to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which it lies across and immediately over the arm 8, this movement of the lever 6 being through substantially 90, as indicated by the dotted arc in Fig. 3. The gate of course moves with the lever 6 to which it is secured rigidly, so far as lateral movement is concerned, by means of the stud 7, and comes to rest substantially in contact with the stake at which serves as a back stop.

After the operator has passed through the gateway and desires to close it, he gives a quick pull to the free end of the chain 18. This lifts the link 9 again and turns it in the reverse direction about its pivot 10, and this turning movement is continued by the weight and momentum of the link until the parts reach again their original position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the gate closed.

It will be readily understood that as the link is lifted from the horizontal position shown in Fig. l, the lever 6 is likewise lifted and rocks upon the stud 7, thus by means of the arm 22, withdrawing the latch 23 from the keeper 25.

Instead of embodying all of the necessary weight in the link 9 itself, I may make this link relatively narrower and lighter, as shown at 9 in Fig. 6, and mount upon the end of the lever B itself an additional weight 26. It will of course be understood that there is no difference in principle or operation between the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and that shown in Fig. 6, and that it is immaterial whether part of the weight, or in fact the entire weight, is carried by the lever 6 itself or whet-her all of it is contained in the link. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the link of course, even though lighter, has some weight and assists the weight 26 in operating the gate.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a slightly different arrangement of operating mechanism, although the general principle remains the same. The parts corresponding to those in the first five figures have been given the same reference characters. Instead, however, of the pull chains 14 and 18, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a rock shaft 27 extending parallel with the roadway or, in other words, at substantial right angles to the plane of the gate when closed. This rock shaft is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the posts 1, l7 and 21.

Each end of the rock shaft 2'7 is provided with an arm 28 preferably projecting toward the driveway, and from the ends of these arms depend short chains or the like 29.

In Fig. '7, I have also illustrated a slightly different arrangement of latch. In this modification, the latch 23' slides through a guide 24 and its end is adapted to enter a hole in a keeper 25. Rocking of the lever 6 on the stud 7 serves to withdraw the latch from the keeper, as described in connection with Fig. 1.

With the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, the link 9 is lifted and thrown over around the pivot 10 by means of a chain 29 attached to an arm 2'? projecting from the rock shaft 27. It will be noted that one pull on the chain 29, which serves to rock the shaft, results in turning the link over and opening the gate, while another pull on either of these chains serves to rock the shaft 27 again in the same direction, but results in returning the link 9 to its original position and closing the gate.

The operation of gates of this general type is often rendered difficult by reason of the wind pressure which is sometimes exerted against the gate. In order to compensate for or counteract this, I provide a vertically arranged sheet or board 30, somewhat similar to the tail of a windmill, and this is attached to the gate at the side of its pivots opposite to that on which the gate itself lies. As shown in Fig. '7, this tail can conveniently be mounted directly on the end of the lever 63. With such an arran ement, it is obvious that the pressure of the wind against this tail will largely counterbalance or equalize that against the gate itself and will thus prevent the wind from inter fering with the operation of the gate.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 6, I have shown the end of the lever B as screw threaded in order that a tail such as 30 may be mounted thereon, if desired.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate to swing in a vertical plane only, said lever extending beyond said gate, link means pivotally connecting said lever with a fixed support, weight means including said link acting directly on said lever, and manually operated means for lifting said lever and weight means, and for simultaneously turning said link means about said fixed support, to cause said gate to swing on its pivots.

2. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate to swing in a vertical plane only, said lever extending beyond said gate, link means pivotally connecting said lever with a fixed support, means tending to move said lever downwardly, means for limiting such downward movement, and manually operated means for moving said lever upwardly and for simultaneously turning said link means about said fixed support to cause said gate to swing on its pivots.

3. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate to swing in a vertical plane only, said lever extending beyond said gate, a fixed support, a link pivotally connected with said lever and with said support, and combined manual and gravity operated means for swinging said link about said support from one side to the other thereof, to open or close said gate.

4. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate to swing in a vertical plane only, said lever extending beyond said gate, a fixed support, a link pivotally connected with said lever and with said support, said link normally lying in a substantially horizontal position at one side of said support, manual means for turning said link about said support to a substantially vertical position, and weight means, of which said link forms at least a part, for automatically continuing the turning movement of said link to a substantially horizontal position at the opposite side of said support, to open or close said gate.

5. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate to swing in a vertical plane only, said lever extending beyond said gate, a fixed support, a link pivotally connected with said lever and with said support, said link normally lying in a substantially horizontal position at one side of said support, manual means for turning said link about said support to a substantially vertical position, and gravity operated means for automatically continuing the turning movement of said link to a substantially horizontal position at the opposite side of said support, to open or close said gate.

6. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate, a rock shaft extending at substantial right angles to the closed position of the gate, manual means for rocking said shaft from either side of the gate, and means connected with said shaft and operating on said lever for either opening or closing said gate by rocking said shaft.

7. The combination with a vertically pivoted gate, of a rigid substantially horizontal lever pivotally secured to said gate, a rock shaft extending at substantial right angles to the closed position of the gate, manual means for rocking said shaft from either side of the gate, and a connection between said shaft and lever, and. means whereby one rocking movement of the shaft serves to open said gate, and a second rocking movement of said shaft in the same direction serves to close the gate.

EVERETT PHILLIPS. 

